At Issue: Rerouting Commercial Traffic Throughout the Northeast

How hard are New York area residents willing to fight the FAA's plan to redirect traffic at Northeastern airports? Just ask the people of Wilton, CT.

The town is set to become the latest local government in the Northeast to join a class-action lawsuit against the FAA over its plans to redirect air traffic into major airports including LaGuardia, JFK, Philadelphia and Westchester County, NY.

After a Thursday meeting, the second this week, the biggest question that remains is how to fund the lawsuit. Officials in wilton estimate the lawsuit could have a hefty price tag of more than $500,000 -- possibly as high as $1 million.

As ANN reported earlier this week, the towns of Norwalk, Weston, Ridgefield, Redding, Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, and Pound Ridge, NY, are plotting how to fight the FAA's plans to redesign the airspace around New York's LaGuardia and Westchester County Airports, a move some say will negatively impact the area's quality of life while doing little to cut system delays.

Now, Wilton First Selectman Bill Brennan says despite the cost, which will be split among all the towns, the issue is too vital for his community not to proceed. "This is really important, so no matter what happens, we've got to beat this thing, or make improvements, or go down fighting."

Representatives of the towns contemplating the lawsuit, met again Thursday in New Canaan, CT, to interview five legal firms and lobbyists. While Wilton hasn't set aside any money yet, Stamford, CT, is in the process of allocating $30,000 for its share of the legal bill. City official Michael Freimuth says $30,000 has to be approved by the city's Board of Finance.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal tells the Wilton Villager he knows Selectman Brennan wants the state to do lead the legal effort -- but some of the other towns and cities may want to be an equal share of the workload (and the expense).

"It should be a partnership. I don't view it as one side leading the other. We're happy to provide leadership; we will take a leadership role if the towns and cities want us to do so." Blumenthal adds the state has said all along it opposes the FAA's redesign.

FMI: www.faa.gov